Combination step ladder and work support

ABSTRACT

A dual purpose foldable stepladder comprising a step-equipped front frame hingedly connected to a back prop frame having two pairs of foldable auxiliary legs on the back prop frame to support the folded ladder in horizontal position for use as a work bench. Each of the two pairs of auxiliary legs comprises a U-shaped tubular leg means which folds against the backside of the back frame. When the two U-shaped leg means are unfolded their upper ends extend into the interior of the folded step ladder and one of them ties the two frames of the folded step ladder together.

[ June 19, 1973 3,613,831 10/1969 Estep 182/27 COMBINATION STEP LADDERAND WORK SUPPORT Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Attorney-Smyth,Roston & Pavitt ABSTRACT n 0 t g .m 2t m 9 9H awe 6 "MM .0 2 60M .0 AMCHu amc n a 0 6 R C B n m n e V n l 6 7 .l

[22] Filed: July 28, 1971 A dual purpose foldable stepladder comprisinga step- 211 App]. No.: 166,785

equipped front frame hingedly connected to a back [52] U S CI prop framehaving two pairs of foldable auxiliary legs on the back prop frame tosupport the folded ladder in horizontal position for use as a workbench. Each of the 182/27, 182/155 [51] Int. E043 1/30 [58] Field of twopairs of auxiliary legs comprises a U-shaped tubu lar leg means whichfolds against the backside of the back frame. When the two U -shaped legmeans are un [56] Rderences Cited folded their upper ends extend intothe interior of the UNITED STATES PATENTS folded step ladder and one ofthem ties the two frames 'Goetter................L................ ofthe folded step ladder together.

182/32 182/27 6/1930 182/223 29 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 907,49112/1908 1,330,162 2/1920 Bostwick.... 1,763,766

1 COMBINATION STEP LADDER AND WORK SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION QThe following prior patents relate todual purpose folding stepladders ofthe type that has two pairs of auxiliary legs to support the foldedladder in horizontal position for use as a work bench:

Rittmann 329,218 Thurmond 868,823 Stout 677,714 Goet'ter 907,491 Mohr746,978 Goetter 1,021,094 Emory 814,904

One disadvantage of all of these prior art constructions is that whenthe foldedladderis usedfor a work bench, the lateral spread of thetwopairs of auxiliary legs is restricted to the width of the ladderitself, whereas satisfactory stability of the work bench requires asubstantially wider base.

Another limitation of the prior ladders is that the auxiliary legstructures are adapted for use only on foldable stepladders, none beingsuitable for use onextension ladders.

A further disadvantage in several instances is that the addition offoldingauxiliary legs complicates the structure of the ladder itself tosuch extentas to change its basic character and unduly increase itscost. A still further disadvantage is that the folding auxiliarylegs,asheretofore constructed, are cumbersome and unduly conspicuous when theladder is placed in normal upright use. i

I It is also to be noted that 'quality ladders are now made of lightmetal and none of the prior art auxiliary leg structures are readilyadapted to anall-metal ladder construction.

I SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the invention is to providesuch a dualpurpose ladder that has completely satisfactory stabilitywhen the ladder is used as a work bench.

Another object is to so construct the folding auxiliary legs that theymateriallycontribute to'the strength and rigidity of the structure, notonly in the ladder mode but also in the work bench mode.

Another object of the invention is to provide auxiliary leg assembliesthat may be readily used on a ladder of the type in which the side barsof the ladder are di vergent with the ladder progressively increasing inwidth toward the bottom end of the ladder.

Still another object, as will be explained, is to provide a dual-purposeladder in which various parts of the structure serve dual purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide fold- -able auxiliarylegs that ,may be used not only in the construction of a foldingstepladder but also may be used without change in the construction of anextension ladder. In this regard, a feature of the invention is that thetwo pairs of auxiliary legs for a folding stepladder are identical andthe auxiliary legs used for an extension ladder are identical to theauxiliary legs used for a folding stepladder.

A folding stepladder has a front frame comprising longitudinal side barsinterconnected by step members and has a back frame hingedly connectedto the front frame to serve as a prop for the front frame. An extensionladder also has a front frame and a rear frame, both of which have sidebars interconnected by rungs.

To convert either type of ladder into a duabpurpose ladder, twoauxiliary leg means are pivotally mounted on the side bars of the rearframe of the ladder to fold out of the way against the back side of theback frame and for this purpose the two auxiliary leg means are mountedon brackets that extend rearwardly of the back frame.

Each of the two auxiliary leg means is preferably in the form of a Ushaped tubular member to provide two auxiliary legs that are integralwith each other. The pivot axis for folding action divides eachU-s'haped member into an upper portion and a lower portion, the upperportion swinging into the interior of the ladder whenthe U-shaped memberis unfolded. The two auxiliary legs formed by the lower portion of eachU-shaped member are divergent so thatthe spacing between their lowerends substantially exceeds the width of the ladder structure. Thebrackets themselves on which the U- shaped members are pivotally mountedcontribute to the strength of the ladder and, in addition, cooperatewith the U-shaped members for further strengthening of the ladderstructure.

When the two U-shaped leg means are unfolded they cooperate with stopmembers to increase the rigidity of the ladder inits work bench modeand, moreover, the stop'members themselves are either conventional partsof the ladders or are additional parts that materially strengthen theladder structure.

A feature of the invention is that a pair of folding diagonal bracescooperate with each U-shaped leg means and are movable past center tolocking positions that place the U-shaped tubular members under'flexuralstress againstthe stop members to increase the rigidity and strength ofthe ladder in its work bench mode.

The features and advantages of the invention may be understood from thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4 is a side elevation of thestepladder in its normal use as a ladder;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1showing how one side of a U-shaped leg means is pivotally mounted on abracket that in turn is rigidly mounted on a side bar of the rearframeof the ladder;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen along,

the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken as indicated by the line7-7 of FIG. 1 showing how, when the stepladder is folded, a folded shelfon the rear frame of the ladder has a flange that engages a step of thefront frame to hold the shelf out of the way when the stepladderfunctions as a work bench;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a fragment of the stepladder in its work benchmode viewed as indicated by the arrow 8 in FIG. 3 showing how anunfolded U-shaped leg means abuts a stop on the front frame of thestepladder;

FIG. 9 is a section taken as indicated by the lines 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragment of the stepladder in the work bench mode viewed inplan as indicated by the arrow 10 in FIG. 3 showing how the U-shaped legmeans at the lower end of the ladder engages a stop on the front frameof the ladder;

FIG. 11 is a section taken as indicated'by the line 1l-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an extension ladder embodying theinvention, the extension ladder being in its work bench mode; and

FIG. 13 is an end elevation of the extension ladder in its work benchmode as seen along the line 13l3 of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The firstembodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 is a foldablestepladder made of aluminum, the ladder comprising a front framegenerally designated'20 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and a back frame generallydesignated 22. The front frame has longitudinal side bars 24 which areinterconnected by spaced transverse steps 25 (FIG. 3) and by atlangedsheet metal cap 26 which serves as the top step. At the upper end of thefront frame 20, the two side bars and the flanged top step 26 areinterconnected by diagonal braces 28 and at the lower end of the frontframe the lowest step 25 and the two side bars 24 are interconnected bya pair of diagonal braces 29. The back frame 22 has a pair of spaceddiagonal side bars 30 which, as best shown in FIG. 1, are interconnectedby transverse members 32, 34, and 36.

The two side bars of each frame are divergent with the frameprogressively increasing in width from top to bottom. The back frame 22is connected to the front frame 20 on its opposite sides respectively bypivot elements on the top step 26, and when the stepladder is unfoldedfor use as a ladder, the back frame 22 serves as a prop for the frontframe as may be seen in FIG. 4.

- The extent to which the two frames may be swung apart is limited by apair of foldable links 42 on the opposite sides respectively of theladder.

The structure of the ladder as described to this point is conventionaland old in the art. The present invention adds a first auxiliary legmeans 44 near the top end of the ladder and a second auxiliary leg means45 near the bottom end of the ladder, both of which are pivotallymounted on the back frame 22. Normally the two auxiliary leg means 44,45 are folded against the backside of the back frame 22, as shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 4, to be out of the way when the stepladder is not usedas a work bench.

The two auxiliary leg means 44 and 45 comprise two identical U-shapedtubular members each of which forms two auxiliary legs 46 (FIG. 1)integrally interconnected by a transverse top bar 48. To add strengthand provide lateral rigidity, the two legs 46 of each U- shaped legmeans are rigidly interconnected by a lower crossbar 50, as best shownin FIG. 3. In the upper portion of each of the U-shaped leg means, thetwo legs 46 are parallel and of a uniform overall width that is onlyslightly less than the spacing between the side bars of the front andback frames 20, 22 to permit the upper portion of the U-shaped leg meansto swing into the interior of the two ladder frames when the U-shapedleg means is unfolded (FIG. 3) for use of the ladder as a work bench asmay be seen in FIG. 1.

The U-shaped leg means 44 near the upper end of the ladder is pivotallymounted by pivots 52 (FIG. 2) on corresponding brackets 54 which arefixedly mounted on the back sides of the corresponding side bars 30 ofthe back frame 22 and, in like manner, the U-shaped leg means 45 nearthe bottom end of the ladder is mounted by pivots 55 (FIGS. 3 and 6) onbrackets 56 on the side bars 30 of the back frame 22. In both instancesthe pivots engage the U-shaped leg means snugly to prevent relativemovement of the leg means along the pivot axis whereby the U-shaped legmeans serves as a cross brace to strengthen the back frame 22. As may beseen in FIG. 1, the back flange 57 of the top step 26 is relativelynarrow to clear the arcuate path of the U-shaped leg means 44 and topermit the U-shaped leg means to be placed near the top end of theladder.

An important feature of the invention is that the pivots for the twoU-shaped members are spaced rearwardly from the back side of the backframe 22 to permit the U-shaped members to fold flat against the backside of the back frame. An important advantage of this arrangement isthat since the lower portions of the legs 46 of the U-shaped members donot swing into the interior of the ladder structure when the ladder isemployed as a work bench, the lower portions of the pairs of legs 46 maydiverge to substantially greater width than the width of the ladderitself and thus provide a broad support base to make the work benchhighly stable.

The U-shaped leg means 44 near the upper end of the ladder is normallylatched in its folded position by a sheet metal latch member 58 (FIG. 1)that is mounted on one of the side bars 30 of the back frame 22 by apivot 60. The latch member 58 is formed with a short flange 62 whichserves as a handle or fingerpiece by means of which the latch member maybe manually rotated to its latching position shown in FIG. 1 where itblocks the path of unfolding movement of the upper end of the U-shapedleg means. In like manner, a latch member 64 for the U-shaped leg means45 at the lower end of the ladder is mounted by a pivot 65 on a side bar'30 of the back frame and is formed with a flange 66 by means of whichit may be manually rotated into and out of the effective position shownin FIG. 1.

A feature of the invention is that each of the two brackets 56 near thelower end of the ladder serves a dual purpose in that it not onlypivotally supports the U-shaped leg means 45 but also serves as a gussetto strengthen the back frame, the bracket being not only riveted to thecorresponding side bar (FIG. 1) of the back frame 22 but also riveted tothe transverse frame member 36 of the back frame.

As best shown in FIG. 3, on each side of the ladder a pair of links 68and 70 form a foldable diagonal 1 brace, generally designated 72, toreleasably maintain the U-shaped auxiliary leg means 44 in its unfoldedposition. The two links 68 and 70 are pivotally connected respectivelyto the U-shaped leg means 44 and to the side bar 30 of the back frame22. In a well known manner the two links 68 and 70 are interconnected bya common pivot 74 which pivotally anchors a saddle member 75 thatstraddles the inner ends of the two links. When the U-shaped leg means44 is unfolded, the two links 68 and 70 are manually moved past centerto a locking position where the saddle member serves as a stop for thetwo links. A diagonal brace 72 may be unlocked simply by forcing thepivot 74 past center out of its locking position. In like manner, a pairof links 76 and 78 form a diagonal brace, generally designated 80, forthe second U-shaped leg means 45, the two links being interconnected bya pivot 82 and being provided with a saddle member 84. v

When the two U-shaped leg means 44 and 45 are unfolded for the workbench mode of the stepladder as shown in FIG. 3, the upper ends of theU-shaped leg means move against suitable stops in the structure of thefront frame and a feature of the invention is that the diagonal braces72 and 80 in their extended locked positions serve as positive means tohold the two U- shaped leg means under flexural stress against the twocorresponding stops. Thus the invention takes advantage of theresiliency of the two U-shaped tubularmembers to lend strength andrigidity to the ladder in its work bench mode.

As best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the stop means for the U-shaped legmeans 44 at the upper end of the ladder is in the form of apair ofangular members 85 which are formed with flanges 86 for abutment by thetop bar 48 of the U-shaped leg means. Advantageously, each of theangular stops 85 is not only riveted to the corresponding side bar 24 ofthe front frame 20 but is also riveted to the corresponding diagonalbrace 28 to strengthen the structure of the front frame.

As shown in FIGS. 3, l0 and 11, the stop means 88 for the secondU-shaped leg means 45 is riveted to the diagonal braces 29 at the lowerend of the front frame 20 and is formed with a flange 90 that hooks overthe top bar 48 of the U-shaped leg member. By virtue of thisarrangement, the stop means 88 not only serves its basic function butalso cooperates with the pivoted U- shaped leg means 45 to interlock thefront and back frames 20 and 22 and thus tie down the front frame 20 ina rigid manner when the stepladder is employed in its work bench modeshown in FIG. 3. In addition, the stop means 88 interconnects the twodiagonals 29 to strengthen the ladder.

The step ladder is equipped with the usual foldable shelf 89 whichunfolds to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 4 to serve as means tosupport paint buckets, tools, et cetera. As shown in FIG. 1 the shelf 89comprises a metal sheet mounted on two angle members that reinforce thesheet and form a pair of arms 91 extending rearward from the sheet. Theangle members are mounted by pivots on corresponding angular brackets 92on the previously mentioned transverse member 32 of the back frame 22.In the unfolded position of the shelf 89 shown in FIG. 4, the arms 91engage the underside of a corresponding step of the front frame 20.

A certain problem arises in that when the ladder is used as a workbench, as shown in FIG. 3, the shelf 89 tends to swing downward bygravity to cause the two arms 90 to swing upward in the way above thework surface of the work bench. As shown in FIG. 7, this problem issolved by forming the sheet metal of the shelf 89 with a narrow flange93 which hooksagainst the corresponding step 25 to keep the shelfdownward when the ladder is in the work bench mode.

The manner in which this first embodiment of the invention serves itspurpose may be readily understood from the foregoing description.Normally, i.e., when the ladder is used in its normal ladder mode, thetwo U-shaped leg means 44 and 45 are secured out of the way flat againstthe back frame 22 of the ladder by the two latch members 58 and 64,respectively. Whenever it is desired to convert the ladder into a workbench, the two U-shaped leg means 44 and 45 are unlatched and swung totheir unfolded positions to place the top bars of the two leg meansagainst the two stop means and 88, respectively, on the front frame 20.The two diagonal braces 72 and 80 are then forced manually past centerto their locked positions to place the two U-shaped leg means underflexural stress. The unfolding and locking of the leg means 45automatically ties the two frames 20 and 22 of the ladder together bythe hook engagement between the stop means 88 and the top bar 48 of theU-shaped leg means. By reversing this procedure, the stepladder may bereconverted from its work bench mode to its normal ladder mode.

The second embodiment of the: invention, shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, is aconventional type aluminum extension ladder that may be converted into awork bench by unfolding two U-shaped tubular auxiliary leg means 44, 45which are identical to the two U-shaped leg means 44, 45 of the firstembodiment of the invention.

A conventional extension ladder structure comprises what may be termed afront frame, generally designated 94, and a back frame, generallydesignated 95, which are longitudinally slidably relative to each other.The front frame 94 comprises a pair of side bars 96 in the form ofchannel members with outwardly turned flanges, the side bars beinginterconnected by fluted rungs 98. In like manner, the back framecomprises a pair of similar side bars 100 interconnected by fluted rungs102. Suitable hook-shaped brackets 104 mounted on the side bars 100 ofthe back frame 95 overhang flangesof the side bars 96 of the front frameto prevent separation of the two frames while permitting relativelongitudinal movement between the two frames.

Each of the U-shaped leg means is mounted on the back frame 95, by pivotbolts 105 and brackets 106. Each U-shaped leg means may be retained inits folded position in the previously described manner by a suitablepivoted latch member 108. On opposite sides of the back frame 95foldable diagonal braces are provided to function in the same manner asthe previously described diagonal braces 72, 80.

A feature of the second embodiment of the invention is that when the twoU-shaped leg means 44, 45 are unfolded for use of the ladder in its workbench mode, the stops for the two U-shaped leg means are the rungs 98 atthe opposite ends, respectively, of the front frame 94. When the twoU-shaped leg means 44, 45 are placed under flexural stress by lockingthe diagonal braces 110, they oppose each other to effectivelyimmobilize the front frame 94 relative to the back frame 95 and at thesame time to make the work bench rigid.

My description in specific detail of the presently preferred embodimentsof the invention will suggest various changes, substitutions and otherdepartures from my disclosure within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a ladder having an extended configuration for use and a compactconfiguration for storage, the combination of:

a front frame comprising a pair of front side bars interconnected bytransverse members including step members and forming the front side ofthe compact configuration;

a back frame comprising a pair of side bars interconnected by spacedtransverse members, said back frame forming the back side of the compactconfiguration;

first auxiliary leg means located on the upper half of the compactconfiguration of the ladder;

second auxiliary leg means located on the lower half of the compactconfiguration of the ladder,

each of said auxiliary leg means comprising two rigidly interconnectedlegs; and

means pivotally mounting each of said auxiliary leg means on the backframe on a pivot axis spaced rearward of the back frame to swing betweena folded position adjacent the back side of the back frame and anextended position,

whereby with the ladder in its compact configuration the two auxiliaryleg means may be unfolded to support the ladder in substantiallyhorizontal position with said front frame uppermost to serve, forexample, as a work bench.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the pivot axis of eachof the auxiliary leg means divides the auxiliary leg means into an upperportion and a lower portion,

said upper portion being narrower than the spaces between the side barsof the two frames to swing upward into said spaces when the auxiliaryleg means is unfolded.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which each of said auxiliaryleg means comprises an elongated member of generally U-shapedconfiguration forming two spaced legs;

in which the two spaced legs are parallel in the upper portion of theauxiliary leg means; and

in which the two legs are divergent in the lower portion of theauxiliary leg means.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which the two legs of eachleg means diverge to greater overall width than said spaces to promotestability and in the work bench mode of the ladder.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which the ladder is afolding stepladder;

and which includes stop means to contact the upper portions of the twoauxiliary leg means when the auxiliary leg means are unfolded, therebyto promote the stability of the ladder in its work bench mode.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which the stop means for thesecond auxiliary leg means releasably engages the second auxiliary legmeans when the second auxiliary leg means is unfolded, thereby tocooperate with the second auxiliary leg means to hold the front and backframes together when the ladder is in the work bench mode.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 in which the second auxiliaryleg means hooks over the correspond- .ing stop means at the unfoldedposition of the second auxiliary leg means.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 6 in which the front frame has apair of diagonal braces each of which in which each brace means unfoldspast center to a l locking position to press the auxiliary leg meansagainst the corresponding stop means.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 9 in which each of saidauxiliary leg means is resiliently flexible; and

in which the corresponding brace means is located and dimensioned toplace the unfolded leg means under flexural stress for sustainedpressure against the corresponding stop means.

11. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which each of saidauxiliary leg means comprises an elongated member of generally U-shapedconfiguration forming two spaced legs.

12. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the two leg means aresubstantially identical.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which the side bars of theback frame of the ladder are divergent toward the bottom end of theladder with corresponding increase in the distance between the side barsof the front frame toward the bottom end of the ladder;

in which each said auxiliary leg means is mounted on means extendinwardly of the corresponding side bars to space the auxiliary leg meanscentrally between the two side bars with the two auxiliary leg means inalignment longitudinally of the ladder.

14. A combination as set forth in claim 13 in which the side bars of theback frame are interconnected by a transverse frame member in the regionof the brackets for the second auxiliary leg means; and

in which the brackets for the second auxiliary leg means are fixedlyconnected both to said transverse frame member and to the correspondingside bar of the back frame to function as a gusset to brace the backframe.

15. A combination as set forth in claim 13 which includes a latch memberto releasably hold the second auxiliary leg means in folded position,said latch member being pivotally mounted on one of the two brackets forthe second auxiliary leg means.

16. A combination as set forth in claim 15 which includes a fasteningelement anchoring one of the brackets for the second auxiliary leg meansto the corresponding side bar of the back frame; and

in which the latch member is pivoted on said fastening element.

17. A combination as set forth in claim 13 in which the opposite sidesof each of the two auxiliary leg means are connected to thecorresponding side bars of the back frame by two corresponding bracemeans that unfold to diagonal positions to serve as diagonal braces forthe two auxiliary leg means; and

in which the two brace means for the second auxiliary leg means areformed with angular offsets to compensate for the increase in thedistance between the side bars of the back frame.

18. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which each of the auxiliaryleg means is connected to the two opposite side bars of the back frameby pivot means that resist relative movement between the side bars andthe auxiliary leg means along the pivot axis whereby each auxiliary legmeans interconnects the two side bars in a manner to strengthen the backframe.

19. A combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes latch means onthe back frame to releasably hold each of the auxiliary leg means infolded position against the back frame.

20. A combination as set forth in claim 19 in which each side of each ofthe two leg means is pivotally mounted on a bracket on the correspondingside bar of the back frame; and

in which said latch means for at least one of the two auxiliary legmeans is a latch member pivotally mounted on one of the brackets for thecorresponding auxiliary leg means.

21. A combination as set forth in claim 20 in which the side bars of theback frame are interconnected by a transverse frame member in the regionof the brackets for the second auxiliary leg means; and

in which the brackets for the second auxiliary leg means are fixedlyconnected both to the transverse frame member and the corresponding sidebars of the back frame to function as gussets to strengthen the backframe.

22. A combination as set forth in claim 19 in which each of said latchmeans is a latch member mounted on the back side of a side bar of theback frame to swing into and out of a position to block the path ofunfolding movement of the corresponding auxiliary leg means.

23. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the lower portion ofeach auxiliary leg means is connected to the back frame by brace meansthat unfolds to a diagonal position to serve as a diagonal brace for theunfolded auxiliary leg means; and

which includes means to releasably interconnect the two frames of theladder near the lower end of the ladder to hold the two frames togetherwhen the ladder is supported by the two auxiliary leg means in its workbench mode.

24. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the ladder is anextension ladder with the two frames thereof interconnected with freedomfor the two frames to slide longitudinally relative to each other; and iwhich includes means to prevent relative longitudinal movement betweenthe two frames when the ladder is supported by the two auxiliary legmeans in its work bench mode.

25. A combination as set forth in claim 24 in which the two side bars ofeach of the frames of the extension ladder are interconnected by spacedrungs; and

in which, when the two auxiliary leg means are unfolded, one auxiliaryleg means abuts a rung of the front frame of the ladder to preventrelative longitudinal movement of the two frames in one direction andthe other auxiliary leg means abuts another rung of the front frame toprevent relative longitudinal movement of the two frames in the oppositedirection, whereby the two unfolded auxiliary leg means prevent relativelongitudinal movement between the two frames of the ladder.

26. A combination as set forth in claim 25 in which one of the twounfolded auxiliary leg means abuts the uppermost rung of the front frameand the other of the two unfolded auxiliary leg means abuts thelowermost rung of the front frame.

27. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the ladder isfoldable stepladder;

in which the uppermost step of the front frame is a rectangular sheetmetal member having a flange along its front side and a flange along itsback side to stiffen the sheet metal member, the flange along the backside of the sheet metal member being relatively narrow to clear the pathof folding and unfolding movement of the first auxiliary leg means.

28. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the ladder is afolding stepladder;

in which the back frame of the ladder is a prop frame;

in which a foldable shelf to support paint buckets and the like has apair of spaced arms to engage the under side of a step of the frontframe when the ladder is unfolded; and

in which the foldable shelf has an upward flange along its back edge toengage said step to keep the shelf out of the way in its folded positionwhen the step ladder is supported by the two pairs of auxiliary legs.

29. In a ladder having an extended configuration for use and a compactconfiguration for storage, the combination of a front frame sectioncomprising a pair of side bars and a'plurality of step members rigidlyinterconnecting said pair of said bars, a back frame section comprisinga pair of side bars and a plurality of spaced members rigidlyinterconnecting said pair of side bars, means located at one end of saidfront and back frames for connecting said frames in a pivotablerelationship, means located at a second end of said front and backframes for supporting said frames in a substantially vertical position,v first and second pivot means mounted on one of said frames andextending outwardly therefrom, away from the other of said frames firstand second pairs of leg means pivotally mounted in said first and secondpivot means for movement between first positions in which they areparallel to and folded against said one of said frames and secondpositions in which they (a) are angularly related to, (b) intersect, and(0) pass through the plane of said one of said frames to support saidframes in a substantially horizontal position.

1. In a ladder having an extended configuration for use and a compactconfiguration for storage, the combination of: a front frame comprisinga pair of front side bars interconnected by transverse members includingstep members and forming the front side of the compact configuration; aback frame comprising a pair of side bars interconnected by spacedtransverse members, said back frame forming the back side of the compactconfiguration; first auxiliary leg means located on the upper half ofthe compact configuration of the ladder; second auxiliary leg meanslocated on the lower half of the compact configuration of the ladder,each of said auxiliary leg means comprising two rigidly interconnectedlegs; and means pivotally mounting each of said auxiliary leg means onthe back frame on a pivot axis spaced rearward of the back frame toswing between a folded position adjacent the back side of the back frameand an extended position, whereby with the ladder in its compactconfiguration the two auxiliary leg means may be unfolded to support theladder in substantially horizontal position with said front frameuppermost to serve, for example, as a work bench.
 2. A combination asset forth in claim 1 in which the pivot axis of each of the auxiliaryleg means divides the auxiliary leg means into an upper portion and alower portion, said upper portion being narrower than the spaces betweenthe side bars of the two frames to swing upward into said spaces whenthe auxiliary leg means is unfolded.
 3. A combination as set forth inclaim 2 in which each of said auxiliary leg means comprises an elongatedmember of generally U-shaped configuration forming two spaced legs; inwhich the two spaced legs are parallel in the upper portion of theauxiliary leg means; and in which the two legs are divergent in thelower portion of the auxiliary leg means.
 4. A combination as set forthin claim 2 in which the two legs of each leg means diverge to greateroverall width than said spaces to promote stability and in the workbench mode of the ladder.
 5. A combination as set forth in claim 2 inwhich the ladder is a folding stepladder; and which includes stop meansto contact the upper portions of the two auxiliary leg means when theauxiliary leg means are unfolded, thereby to promote the stability ofthe ladder in its work bench mode.
 6. A combination as set forth inclaim 5 in which the stop means for the second auxiliary leg meansreleasably engages the second auxiliary leg means when the secondauxiliary leg means is unfolded, thereby to cooperate with the secondauxiliary leg means to hold the front and back frames together when theladder is in the work bench mode.
 7. A combination as set forth in claim6 in which the second auxiliary leg means hooks over the correspondingstop means at the unfolded position of the second auxiliary leg means.8. A combination as set forth in claim 6 in which the front frame has apair of diaGonal braces each of which interconnects a step member and aside bar of the front frame; and in which the stop means for the secondauxiliary leg means interconnects the two diagonal braces to reinforcethe front frame of the ladder.
 9. A combination as set forth in claim 5in which the lower portion of each auxiliary leg means is connected tothe back frame by brace means that unfolds to a diagonal position toserve as a diagonal brace for the unfolded auxiliary leg means; and inwhich each brace means unfolds past center to a locking position topress the auxiliary leg means against the corresponding stop means. 10.A combination as set forth in claim 9 in which each of said auxiliaryleg means is resiliently flexible; and in which the corresponding bracemeans is located and dimensioned to place the unfolded leg means underflexural stress for sustained pressure against the corresponding stopmeans.
 11. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which each of saidauxiliary leg means comprises an elongated member of generally U-shapedconfiguration forming two spaced legs.
 12. A combination as set forth inclaim 1 in which the two leg means are substantially identical.
 13. Acombination as set forth in claim 12 in which the side bars of the backframe of the ladder are divergent toward the bottom end of the ladderwith corresponding increase in the distance between the side bars of thefront frame toward the bottom end of the ladder; in which each saidauxiliary leg means is mounted on the back frame of the ladder by twobrackets on the side bars respectively of the back frames; and in whichthe brackets for the second auxiliary leg means extend inwardly of thecorresponding side bars to space the auxiliary leg means centrallybetween the two side bars with the two auxiliary leg means in alignmentlongitudinally of the ladder.
 14. A combination as set forth in claim 13in which the side bars of the back frame are interconnected by atransverse frame member in the region of the brackets for the secondauxiliary leg means; and in which the brackets for the second auxiliaryleg means are fixedly connected both to said transverse frame member andto the corresponding side bar of the back frame to function as a gussetto brace the back frame.
 15. A combination as set forth in claim 13which includes a latch member to releasably hold the second auxiliaryleg means in folded position, said latch member being pivotally mountedon one of the two brackets for the second auxiliary leg means.
 16. Acombination as set forth in claim 15 which includes a fastening elementanchoring one of the brackets for the second auxiliary leg means to thecorresponding side bar of the back frame; and in which the latch memberis pivoted on said fastening element.
 17. A combination as set forth inclaim 13 ; in which the opposite sides of each of the two auxiliary legmeans are connected to the corresponding side bars of the back frame bytwo corresponding brace means that unfold to diagonal positions to serveas diagonal braces for the two auxiliary leg means; and in which the twobrace means for the second auxiliary leg means are formed with angularoffsets to compensate for the increase in the distance between the sidebars of the back frame.
 18. A combination as set forth in claim 1 inwhich each of the auxiliary leg means is connected to the two oppositeside bars of the back frame by pivot means that resist relative movementbetween the side bars and the auxiliary leg means along the pivot axiswhereby each auxiliary leg means interconnects the two side bars in amanner to strengthen the back frame.
 19. A combination as set forth inclaim 1 which includes latch means on the back frame to releasably holdeach of the auxiliary leg means in folded position against the backframe.
 20. A combination as set forth in claim 19 in which each side ofeach of the two leg means is pivotally mounted on a bracket on thecorrespOnding side bar of the back frame; and in which said latch meansfor at least one of the two auxiliary leg means is a latch memberpivotally mounted on one of the brackets for the corresponding auxiliaryleg means.
 21. A combination as set forth in claim 20 in which the sidebars of the back frame are interconnected by a transverse frame memberin the region of the brackets for the second auxiliary leg means; and inwhich the brackets for the second auxiliary leg means are fixedlyconnected both to the transverse frame member and the corresponding sidebars of the back frame to function as gussets to strengthen the backframe.
 22. A combination as set forth in claim 19 in which each of saidlatch means is a latch member mounted on the back side of a side bar ofthe back frame to swing into and out of a position to block the path ofunfolding movement of the corresponding auxiliary leg means.
 23. Acombination as set forth in claim 1 in which the lower portion of eachauxiliary leg means is connected to the back frame by brace means thatunfolds to a diagonal position to serve as a diagonal brace for theunfolded auxiliary leg means; and which includes means to releasablyinterconnect the two frames of the ladder near the lower end of theladder to hold the two frames together when the ladder is supported bythe two auxiliary leg means in its work bench mode.
 24. A combination asset forth in claim 1 in which the ladder is an extension ladder with thetwo frames thereof interconnected with freedom for the two frames toslide longitudinally relative to each other; and which includes means toprevent relative longitudinal movement between the two frames when theladder is supported by the two auxiliary leg means in its work benchmode.
 25. A combination as set forth in claim 24 in which the two sidebars of each of the frames of the extension ladder are interconnected byspaced rungs; and in which, when the two auxiliary leg means areunfolded, one auxiliary leg means abuts a rung of the front frame of theladder to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the two frames inone direction and the other auxiliary leg means abuts another rung ofthe front frame to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the twoframes in the opposite direction, whereby the two unfolded auxiliary legmeans prevent relative longitudinal movement between the two frames ofthe ladder.
 26. A combination as set forth in claim 25 in which one ofthe two unfolded auxiliary leg means abuts the uppermost rung of thefront frame and the other of the two unfolded auxiliary leg means abutsthe lowermost rung of the front frame.
 27. A combination as set forth inclaim 1 in which the ladder is foldable stepladder; in which theuppermost step of the front frame is a rectangular sheet metal memberhaving a flange along its front side and a flange along its back side tostiffen the sheet metal member, the flange along the back side of thesheet metal member being relatively narrow to clear the path of foldingand unfolding movement of the first auxiliary leg means.
 28. Acombination as set forth in claim 1 in which the ladder is a foldingstepladder; in which the back frame of the ladder is a prop frame; inwhich a foldable shelf to support paint buckets and the like has a pairof spaced arms to engage the under side of a step of the front framewhen the ladder is unfolded; and in which the foldable shelf has anupward flange along its back edge to engage said step to keep the shelfout of the way in its folded position when the step ladder is supportedby the two pairs of auxiliary legs.
 29. In a ladder having an extendedconfiguration for use and a compact configuration for storage, thecombination of a front frame section comprising a pair of side bars anda plurality of step members rigidly interconnecting said pair of saidbars, a back frame section comprising a pair of side bars and aplurality of spaced members Rigidly interconnecting said pair of sidebars, means located at one end of said front and back frames forconnecting said frames in a pivotable relationship, means located at asecond end of said front and back frames for supporting said frames in asubstantially vertical position, first and second pivot means mounted onone of said frames and extending outwardly therefrom, away from theother of said frames first and second pairs of leg means pivotallymounted in said first and second pivot means for movement between firstpositions in which they are parallel to and folded against said one ofsaid frames and second positions in which they (a) are angularly relatedto, (b) intersect, and (c) pass through the plane of said one of saidframes to support said frames in a substantially horizontal position.